Luke Steele
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lukesteele.bsky.social
Luke Steele
@lukesteele.bsky.social
Nature and environmental policy and law 🌳 | Studying PhD, regulatory reform of the UK's upland environment ⚖️ ✡️ 🏳️‍🌈
Pinned
Hello BlueSky!

Excited to be here to meet people, new and old.

I'm a magpie-like collector of passions, most connected by the common threads of nature and the environment.

Nature and climate advocacy; environmental law and policy; rewilding and nature restoration; wildlife; adventuring.
When we picture extinction, it evokes images of a toad whose swamp is drying up or birds of prey vanishing from the skies.

But beneath our feet a quieter crisis is unfolding. Plants, the foundation of life itself, are disappearing — and deserve far more attention.
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
A quarter of Britain’s native plants now at risk of extinction
The first update in two decades to a “red list” of plants found a substantial increase in the number of threatened species, but there are some reasons for hope
www.thetimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Reposted by Luke Steele
October 28, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Sir David Attenborough has thrown his support behind a major bid by The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust to buy the 9,500-acre Rothbury Estate.

If successful, it would become England's largest ever land acquisition for nature restoration.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Sir David Attenborough backs bid to buy Rothbury Estate
Wildlife trusts attempt to raise £30m to keep Northumberland's Rothbury Estate from being split up.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Reposted by Luke Steele
Humanity has failed to limit global heating to 1.5C and must change course immediately, the secretary general of the UN has warned.

Quite a story by @jonathan-watts.bsky.social. Others have said same before, but big deal coming from Guterres.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Change course now’: humanity has missed 1.5C climate target, says UN head
Exclusive: ‘Devastating consequences’ now inevitable but emissions cuts still vital, says António Guterres in sole interview before Cop30
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Reposted by Luke Steele
Nice write up on the new IUCN Guidelines for Rewilding by Rewilding Europe... rewildingeurope.com/news/new-iuc...
New IUCN rewilding guidelines: a blueprint for global nature recovery | Rewilding Europe
Marking a major milestone for the global rewilding movement, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has released a comprehensive set of rewilding guidelines.
rewildingeurope.com
October 15, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Reposted by Luke Steele
This is the official return of a native species lost for over a century.
October 7, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Reposted by Luke Steele
Crowds gather to mark two years since the Hamas massacres and mourn deaths in Manchester
Grief and defiance in Trafalgar Square as thousands mark second anniversary of 7 October
Crowds gather to mark two years since the Hamas massacres and mourn deaths in Manchester
www.jewishnews.co.uk
October 5, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Reposted by Luke Steele
On Yom Kippur— the holiest day for Jews— a synagogue in Manchester became a crime scene.

Two murdered, more injured.

This is what happens when hate is normalised, when Jew-haters are allowed to roam free.

It has to stop.
October 2, 2025 at 5:49 PM
"What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make."

— Farewell, Dr Jane Goodall. Your life’s work has been a profound source of inspiration and an enduring call to action for our natural world.
October 1, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Reposted by Luke Steele
Our peatlands have massive potential in combating climate change, improving water quality and reversing biodiversity decline.

DAERA Minister @andrewmuirni.bsky.social has launched his Peatland Strategy to restore these precious habitats.
September 18, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Reposted by Luke Steele
In debate on new Community Right to Buy laws, great to see Labour MP @simonforstroud.bsky.social call for communities to be given chance to buy environmental assets, alongside social & economic ones - a point also made by Lib Dem MP @vikkislademp.bsky.social
hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2025... 1/
September 3, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Few creatures are as emblematic of Britain as the water vole, famously immortalised as 'Ratty' in The Wind in the Willows.

It's heartening to see reintroduction of the species to areas where it has been lost, alongside the restoration of vital habitats.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Lake District sees 75 water voles released into Ennerdale Valley
The water voles are living in temporary enclosures until after the bank holiday weekend.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 24, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Reposted by Luke Steele
On August 23, 1989, about 2 million people from Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania formed a 600 km long human chain that united all 3 countries to show the world their desire to leave the Soviet Union and Communism.
August 23, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Reposted by Luke Steele
England’s newest National Nature Reserve is declared: Stiperstones Landscape in Shropshire. 11th of 25 NNRs to be declared in the King’s Series, this one is over 1500 hectares of heath, woods, grassland & bog set atop dramatic geology. Thanks to all partners for this landmark moment.
August 14, 2025 at 5:26 PM
This is not a complicated matter.

Beavers help restore balance to ecosystems, bolster our defences against flooding, and strengthen resilience against drought and wildfires.

To delay such action is not just shortsighted — it is profoundly irresponsible.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Scheme to release beavers into wild in England has stalled, say nature experts
Not a single licence granted since first beavers let loose in March, raising questions over application process
www.theguardian.com
August 4, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Reposted by Luke Steele
On this day, 17 years ago, we purchased the 10,000-acre Dundreggan estate - a former shooting estate transformed into a thriving rewilding landscape. 🌳

Discover more about Dundreggan 👉
Dundreggan - a flagship rewilding estate | Trees for Life
Brimming with wildlife and part of the ancient hunting grounds of kings and lairds from the 14th Century onwards, Dundreggan has been rewilded by Trees for Life since we purchased it in 2008. Here we…
treesforlife.org.uk
August 1, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Reposted by Luke Steele
Big wood pasture creation project we are working on with a brilliant landowner

Mixture of regen grazing and habitat restoration
June 13, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Drinking Turkish coffee, reading Jake Fiennes and lounging in the 28°C sun. ☕️ 📖 ☀️

A hat trick, by all accounts.
July 12, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Reposted by Luke Steele
After decades of campaigning, restrictions on toxic lead ammunition are finally on the way. 👏

A long-overdue move that will save tens of thousands of birds & countless other wildlife from lead poisoning.

Thank you to all who campaigned with us & to UK Gov for taking this step.
July 10, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Nice weekend ride out in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. 🚲

Took on some serious climbs, but worth it for the stunning views.
June 15, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Reposted by Luke Steele
For months, alongside farmers, supporters, and nature groups, we’ve made the case for protecting nature-friendly farming.

Today, we’re pleased to see HM Treasury has listened: the nature-friendly farming budget has been maintained.

This is a crucial step, but nature needs more...
June 11, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Reposted by Luke Steele
Discover Park Gill, a breathtaking new reserve in the heart of the Dales.🌳This magical spot is set to revive Yorkshire's rare #temperaterainforests, creating a haven for wildlife & a dream destination for nature enthusiasts.💚

ywt.org.uk/news/new-reserve-heart-dales-will-return-rainforests-yorkshire
New reserve in the heart of the Dales will return rainforests to Yorkshire | Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is delighted to announce the opening of a new nature reserve, Park Gill, in the Yorkshire Dales thanks to a long-term partnership with Aviva, the UK’s leading diversified insu...
ywt.org.uk
June 9, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Hello BlueSky!

Excited to be here to meet people, new and old.

I'm a magpie-like collector of passions, most connected by the common threads of nature and the environment.

Nature and climate advocacy; environmental law and policy; rewilding and nature restoration; wildlife; adventuring.
June 8, 2025 at 9:14 AM